WHEN Christina O’Connor, 31, was 13, she fell into the clutches of a grooming gang.
Here she talks about how she helped jail the men who abused her.
4
Christina O’Connor shares her horrific experience of being abused by a group of groomsmen Credit: Fabulous Magazine
4
She is haunted by the fact that she will never get her childhood back. Credits: Submitted
Sandwiched in the back of a car with two men, I smiled as Glen (name changed) asked if I would be his girlfriend.
At the age of 14, I had never even kissed a boyfriend before and I excitedly agreed.
I didn’t mind that he was a bit older than me – I was just happy to have my first boyfriend.
It was January 2006 and I had only known Glen and his friends for a few months, after meeting them at the bus stop, but they made me feel special.
I was bullied at school, so it was nice to have real friends who were so kind.
I had been a model daughter and student all my life, but hanging out with these older men made me feel grown-up and worldly, and I soon started staying out late, accepting the drinks and drugs they offered me.
I had no idea that these men were part of a gang of grooms that would tear my life apart, subjecting me to almost daily horrific physical and sexual abuse, including rape, that would last for five terrifying years.
Every night I told my unsuspecting parents that I was going to a friend’s place, but instead, I hung out with my new friends, driving around in the car of a man called Pretos.
He seemed to be the leader, controlling the alcohol and drugs and barking orders.
Growing up, I had a happy childhood.
I was an only child and I was always close to my parents, but we started arguing about me coming home late, drunk.
They tried to talk to me, but nothing worked.
When I was 14, Pretos invited me to a party.
I was expecting balloons and fairy lights, but instead, it was full of middle-aged men, mostly of Asian descent.
There were a few other teenage girls there and I recognized a couple from my neighborhood.
One of the men gave me a pill and after I took it, I passed out.
When I came to, Pretos raped me. I was terrified, but I couldn’t resist him. That was my first experience of sex.
I somehow stumbled downstairs and made it home, where I managed to avoid my parents and head straight for the bathroom.
I took a long shower, but I felt like I would never be clean again.
Pretos texted me the next day, but I ignored him.
A few minutes later the doorbell rang, a group of girls were outside.
I told them to leave me alone, but then Pretos texted me, “Get out here or else.”
Terrified, I did as he said.
He drove me to the clinic to get the morning-after pill, then forced me into a house where I was beaten up by a group of teenage girls.
The men, including Glen, just stood there laughing. Then I realized that I was badly deceived.
Bruised and bleeding, I staggered out and called my parents, telling them I had been robbed.
They were horrified. Mom burst into tears, and Dad called the police to report the robbery.
I didn’t dare to tell them the truth because I was afraid that the gang might hurt them.
We were just a normal family – mom worked as a cook and dad was a builder.
He was very protective and caring, but I knew he couldn’t save me either.
Since then, Pretos demanded that I meet him most nights, and I told my parents that I was at friends’ houses.
I was forced to have sex with unknown men – sometimes multiple men at once.
The men either did not use any contraception or only used plastic bags.
4
Eleven members of the Huddersfield grooming gang were eventually convicted Credit: Submitted
One night I was taken to a hotel, raped by three men, and then thrown into an unknown city.
Another time, Pretos took me out of school to have sex with a man in his car while he watched.
If I ever refused, he threatened to kill me or my family – I knew he was capable of it and I lived in constant fear.
He often punched me or threatened me with a gun to keep me in line. I was petrified.
I got pregnant at the age of 15. Pretos insisted that I have a break, but expected me to return with him the very next day.
By now mom and dad were already crazy with worry.
They thought I had fallen in with the wrong crowd, but they had no idea how serious it really was.
They kept calling the police, who said it was best to keep me at home, and assumed I was just a teenager who had gone off the rails.
Throughout 2007, our family home was attacked. The windows were broken, Dad’s tire was loose, and shots were fired through our front window.
I told the cops that I had no idea why people were shooting at my house, but of course I knew exactly who it was.
By 2010, the gang started forcing me and other girls to commit robberies.
I discovered I was pregnant again, but the father had nothing to do with the gang, so I hid it from them, knowing they would force me to terminate.
I told my parents, who said they would support me. But then I was arrested for stealing.
In February 2011 I pleaded guilty to assault, burglary, robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
It was almost a relief when I was sentenced to three and a half years in a young offenders’ institution.
At least I would be safe. There I had terrible nightmares and confessed to the chaplain what had happened.
She told me I was groomed and explained that crimes were just another aspect of grooming.
In the end I agreed to talk to the police and gave a statement.
In the meantime, I gave birth and when I was released after 15 months, I was determined to give my child a good future.
In July 2013 I agreed to co-operate with the police and Operation Tendersea, an investigation into the Huddersfield grooming gang, was launched.
During three trials in 2018, I testified, along with many other girls, behind a screen.
The group of men, led by Pretos, whose real name was Amere Singh Dhaliwal, then 32, were sentenced to a total of 221 years at Leeds Crown Court in October 2018.
Eleven members of the gang were convicted of an incredible 43 crimes against me, including 22 counts of rape.
It was a relief to see them in prison.
But the damage to me and the other victims has already been done – I will never get my childhood back.
Now, after being encouraged by my late father, I have decided to waive my right to anonymity and speak out to help parents, teachers and children learn about grooming and recognize the signs.
I’m still struggling with relationships and I’m angry that I had very little support – I don’t think any of the girls involved did.
But I am determined not to let what happened to me ruin my future, because my child and I deserve more.
- Read Christina’s full story in her book Groomed By A Gang (£8.99, Mirror Books).
4
Christina decided to waive her right to anonymity after speaking with her late father and decided to help raise awareness about grooming Credit: Submitted
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: newstars.edu.vn